Greek commissioner to speak out on bribery allegations

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European commissioner for migration and home affairs, will hold a press conference in Athens on Friday to defend himself against accusations that he is involved in a bribery case targeting drugmaker Novartis.

Avramopoulos’ name came up alongside other high-level Greek officials in a case in which the Swiss pharma company is accused of bribing doctors and public officials to prescribe and procure its medicines. Novartis denied the accusations last year, after prosecutors swooped on its Athens office in search of evidence.

The commissioner, who was a health minister in Greece between 2006 and 2009, has pushed back hard against the allegations in Greek media. Only “sick minds” could have come up with the accusations, he said.

A European Commission spokesman said Brussels didn’t have anything to add to Avramapoulos’ statements.